Pressing device



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

NR EN RV DE ND UG Bm .m NR .P I

Y (No Model.)

(No Modeljj 2 Sheefs-Sheet 2. 1. N. BUNDRBN.

PRESSING DEVICE.

No. 588,125. Patented Aug. 17,1897.

UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE. l

ISAAC NEVTON BUNDREN, OF NEV CAMBRIA, MISSOURI.

PRESSING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,125, dated August 17, 1897.

Application led March 31, 1897. Serial No. 630,163. (No model.)

To all whom t may concer/t:

Be it known that l, ISAAC NEWTONv BUN- DREN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Cambria, in t-he county of Macon and State of Missouri, have invented a new 'and useful Pressing Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in devices such as are especially adapted for pressing sacks of flour, meal, duc., into a flattened condition suitable for close packing or piling up; and the object o'f the invention is to provide a device of this character of a simple and inexpensive nature which shall be adapted to operate in a substantially automatic manner to press the sacks of flour into the required flattened condition.

The invention consists in a device of this character comprising a frame,'a platform on the frame whereon the sack of flour or other article to be compressed is adapted to be supported, a compressing device carried on the frame over the platform, and means for mov- -in g said parts relatively t0 each other to cause the platform to pass under the compressing device in order that the article supported on the platform may be pressed into a flattened condition.

The invention also contemplates certain novel features of the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the improved device whereby certain import-ant advantages are attained, and the device is made simpler, cheaper, and otherwise better adapted and more convenient for use, all as will be hereinafter fully s'etforth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the claims.

In order that my improvements may be the better understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawings a pressing device constructed according to my invention, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the pressing device, showing a sack of flour or other article to be pressed supported uponthe platform. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally through the device. Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the reverse position of the sack-supporting platform. Fig. 4: is a vertical section taken transversely through the device in the plane indicated by the line a ain Fig. 3. Fig.

5 is a partial side view showing the side of the machine opposite to that seen in Fig. l.

The frame of the improved device is formed with a base portion l, from which extend upward standards 2 2, located at the several corners and at the central part of the base l, which is, as'seen in the drawings, of rectangular form, and said standards 2 support ad- 'jacent to their upper ends parallel tracks 3 3, arranged longitudinally of the machine and secured by means of bolts or other devices to the inner surfaces of the supporting-standards 2 of the frame, as clearly shown in Figs. l and 4. The frame of the device is also constructed with parallel side bars -l 4, extending along opposite sides of its upper part, its side bars being located above and outside of the tracks 3, with which they are parallel, and

l being adapted to guide the sack-supporting platform, which moves along said tracks 3, whereby said platform is held agaiust'lateral movement.

The platform is constructed with a frame 5, of rectangular form, having on its under part the platform proper, which is, as shown V clearly in the sectional view Fig. 4, formed of parallel side portions 8 S, spaced apart to form an opening between them, where-in plays a vertically-movable section or'part 9, extending longitudinally of the platform andadapted to be depressed by the Weight of the sack of flour or other articledeposited upon'the platform, as shown in Fig. '2, said verticallymovable section or part 9 standing, when depressed, substantially level with the side portions 8 S of the platform and being provided at suitable intervals with rods or stems l0, projecting down from its under side and passing through openings formed inthe crosspieces of the frame 5, by means of Vwhich stems or rods the movable section or part 9 is guided.

The cross-pieces of the frame 5, through whichthe stems or rodslO pass, are recessed at'their upper parts, as shown at 11, to permit the introduction of springs l2, coiled upon IOO the upper portions of said rods or stems and bearing at their lower ends upon the bottoms of said recesses in such a way as to hold the movable section or part 9 of the platform normally in its raised position, and the lower ends of said stems or rods 10 extend down below the under side of the frame 5 and are connected with a beam 13, which extends longitudinally along the under side of the frame between and at a slight distance below the treads of the track wheels or rollers 7, as shown in Fig. 4. p

On the under side of the'beam 13 is secured a rack-bar 14E, having teeth formed in its under side, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the teeth of said rack-bar are adapted,

as the movable section or part 9 of the plat-v form moves up and down, tobe engaged with and disengaged from the teeth of a pinion 15, carried on'a shaft 16, extending across the frame of the device between the tracks 3 3, and one end of said shaft 16 extends outside of the frame of the machine and is provided with a pulley 17, adapted for the passage of a driving-belt 18, by means of which the device is adapted to be driven from any suitable source of power.

On the extremity of the shaft 16, opposite to the pulley 17, isfixed a sprocket-wheel 19, over which passes a sprocket-chain or link belt 20, extending down and around a sprocketwheel 22, carried on a bearing-stud 23, secured to the side of the frame beneath the shaft 16, and said sprocket-chain 20 extends up, as shown in the drawings, and over a sprocket-wheel 24, xed on the end of a shaft 25, extending transversely across the frame and having its ends supported in bearingblocks 26, mounted for vertical adjustment on brackets 27, secured to and extending above the side bars 4 of the frame. The

brackets 27 are, as shown in the drawings,

formed of metal rods or bars bent to a V shape and having their opposite end portions carried down and secured to the upper surfaces of the side bars 4, and one of the sides of each bracket is arranged vertically and is adapted for the vertical movement of the bearing-block 27 at that end of the shaft 25.

The bearing-stud 23, whereon the sprocketwheel 22 is carried, is likewise adapted for vertical adjustment, being provided with a shank extending through a slotted opening 28 in a bracket 29, secured to one of the standards 2 of the frame and provided with a nut 30, screwing upon it, by means of which said bearing-stud is secured to the frame of the device when properly adj usted. On the shaft 25, between the bearing-blocks 26, wherein the same turns, is arranged a compressingroller 31, which is adapted to pass over the upper part of the sack of flour or other article to be pressed when the same is. upon the platform, and by means of the adjusting devices above described it will be seen that said roller may be adjusted up and down upon the frame, so as to stand nearer to or farther from the platform whereon th'e sack of flour or other article is supported, and by this means the device is made adjustable, so as to be adapted for pressing bags of different sizes and containing material of different kinds.

At the central portion of the frame of the device is arranged a boxing 32, forming Within ita vertical well or'channel wherein is arranged to play a weight'33, carried on the end of a cord or chain .34, extending over apulley 35 at the upper end of said well or channel, said cord or chain being connected at its upper end to the forward portion of the platform, such connection being, as shown in the drawings, made with the forward portion of the beam 13 at the under side of said platform, and by this arrangement it will be seen that said weight is caused to hold the platform normally drawn over toward one end of the tracks 3, as shown in, Fig. 1, the said track being for this reason provided with stops 36,

projecting up into the path of the track wheels or rollers 11 in such a way as to prevent the said track wheels or rollers from being disengaged from the extremities of the tracks.

In operation the belt 18 will be employed to continuously drive the shaft 16, whereon the pinion 15 is secured, and it will be seen that when no sack is upon the platform of the -device the .movable part or section 9 of vthe platform will stand in its raised position,

as shown in Fig. 3, so as to hold the rack-bar 14 out of engagement with said pinion 15, but when a sack of flour or other article to be pressed is deposited upon the platform of the device the weightof said sack will serve to depress the movable part or section 9 of the platform so as to engage the teeth of the rackbar with the pinion 15, whereupon the rota.

tive movement of said pinion will act to move the rack-bar 14 and the platform to which the same is connected endwise in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, so as to cause the sack'of flour (indicated at y) to pass beneath the xoo IIC

compressing-roller 31, by means of which it will be pressed into a flattened condition suitable for piling up.

The endwise movement of the platform whereon the sack of flour or other article is carried relative to the frame of the device will serve to cause the sack to pass completely under the compressing-roller 31, and the rackbar 14 is of such length that afterI` the platform has been moved in the direction of the arrow to its fullest extent, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the platform whereon said rack-bar is carried will be held in position with the sack of iiour or other article thereon out of contact with the compressing-roller 31, so that said sack may be conveniently removed from the platform.

By the endwise movement of the sack-snpporting platform relative to the frame it will be seen that the weight 33 will be caused to rise in the well or channel 32, and after the sack of flour or other article has been removed y from the platform, so as to permit the mov- A588,1:25 Y v s,VA

able part or section D thereof to rise verti-` cally in such a Way as to disengage the rackbar 14, connected to said movable section, from the pinion l5, said Weight 53' Will be permitted to act to return the platform to its first position, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 2, ready to receive another sack of flour to be pressed, the rack-bar .When raised passing back directly over, but out of engagement with, the teeth of the pinion l5, as will be readilyT understood.

From the above description it will be seen that the improved device is of an extremely simple and inexpensive construction and permits the sacks of flour or other articles to be pressed into a liattened condition in a substantially automatic manner, and it will also be seen that the vinvention is susceptible of some modification Without material departure from its principles and spirit, and for this reason I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise form and arrangement of the several parts herein set forth.

What I claim isi- 1 l. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame, a platform arranged on the frame and adapted to receive an article to be pressed, acompressing device mounted on the frame and located above the platform, and means for moving the parts relatively to each other to cause the platform to pass under the compressing device automatically when an article is placed upon the said platform, substantially as described.

2. Ina deviceof the character described, the combination of a frame, a platform on the frame Whereon the article to be pressed is adapted to be supported, a compressing device mounted on the frame and located above the platform, and means for moving theparts relatively to each other to cause the platform to pass beneath the compressing device, said means being controlled bythe article carried on the platform, substantially as set forth.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame, a platform on the frame whereon the article to be pressed is adapted to be supported, a compressing device carried on the frame over the platform, actuating devices for moving the parts relatively to each other to cause the platform to pass beneath the compressing device, and controlling mechanism for said actuating devices, sa-id controlling mechanism being carried by the platform and being controlled by the article supported thereon, substantially as set forth.

et. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame, a platform on the frame Whereon the article to be pressed is adapted to be supported, a compressing device carried on the frame over the platform, actuating devices for moving said parts relatively to each other to cause the platform to pass in one direction under the compressing device, means for retracting the parts, and controlling mechanism for said actuating devices, said controlling mechanism bei-ng carried on the platform and controlled by the article supported thereon, substantially as set forth.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame, a platform movable along the same, a pressing device on the frame over the platform, actuating devices to move the platform to cause the article carried thereon to pass under the pressing device,

and controlling mechanism for said actuating devices, said mechanism being controlled by the article on the platform, substantially as set forth.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame, a platform movable along the same, a pressing device on the frame, actuating devices to move theplatform to cause the article carried thereon to pass under the pressing device, said devices comprising engaging parts carried respectively by the frame and platform and normally held out of engagement, and means actuated by the article supported on the platform to move said parts into engagement, substantially as set forth.

7 In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame, a platform movable along the same, a pressing device on the frame, gearing to move the platform to cause the article on the platform to pass uni der the pressing device, said gearing comprisin g gears carried respectively on the platform and frame and normally held out of engagement, and means actuated by the article on the platform to throw the gearsinto engagement, substantially as set forth.v

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame, a platform movable along the frame, a pressing device on the frame, rack and pinion gearing for moving the platform to cause the article to be pressed to pass under the pressing device, one element of said gearing being mounted on the frame and the other element being mounted on the platform, said gearing being normally out of engagement, and means for throwing the gearing into engagement, substantially as set forth.

IIO

IIS

9. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a frame, a platform movable along the frame, a pressing device on the frame, actuating devices to move the platform to cause the article thereon to pass under the pressing device, and a movable part on said platform to be moved by the article placed on the platform, said movable part being arranged to control said actuating devices, substantially as set forth.

l0. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame, a platform movable along the frame, av pressing device on the' frame, actuating devices to move the platform to cause the article thereon to pass under the pressing device, and a spring-supported part on said platform adapted to be depressed by the article thereon, and arranged to control said actuating devices, substantially as set forth.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame, a platform movable along the frame, a pressing device on the frame, and actuating devices to move the platform in one direction to cause the article on the platform to pass under the pressing device, said actuating devices being held in operative position by the Weight of the art-icle on the platform, substantially as set forth.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame, a platform movable thereon, a pressing device on the frame, actuating devices to move the platform in one direction to cause the article thereon to pass under the'pressing device, said actuating devices being held in operative position by the Weight ot' the article on the platform, and means to move the platform in the opposite direction When the article is removed therefrom, substantially as set forth.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame, a platform movable thereon, a pressing device on the frame, actuating devices to move the platform in one direction to cause the article thereon to pass under the pressing device, said actuating devices being held in operative position by the article placed on the platform, and a weightconnected with the platform to retract the same when the article is removed therefrom, substantially as set forth.

k14:. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame, a platform movable thereon, a pressing device on the frame, a rotative shaft on the frame and provided with a pinion, a rack-bar movab'le'onthe platform and arranged When moved in one direction to engage said pinion to move the platform to cause the article thereon to pass under the pressing device, 'and a spring-actuated part on the platform to be moved by the article on the platform, said part being connected to therack-bar and adapted to move the same device supported on the frame over the tracks,

Y 4. i :scenes into and out of engagement with the pinion, substantially as set forth.

l5. Ina device of the character described, the combination of a frame, tracks extending L on the same, a platform having wheels engg- 5o ing the tracks, actuating devices controlled" by the article placed on the platform to move the platform along the tracks, and a pressing beneath which pressing device the article on the platform is arranged to pass,substantially as set forth. v l

16. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame, apressin g device thereon, a platform movable on the'frame, and adapted to carry an article to be presed, a rotative shaft on the frame, a pinion on the shaft, a rack movable into and out of engagement with the pinion, a movable parton the platform, to be moved by the article placed thereon', stems connecting the said part with the rack-bar, and springs for holding saidv part and the rack-bar normally out of opera- Y tive position, substantially as set finish.l y

17. In a device of the character described, 1e the combination of a frame, a-platform movable on the same and adapted to carry anarticle to be pressed, a shaft rotatively mounted over the path of the platform and adjulstable towardV the same, a compressing-,roller on the shaft, a bearing-stud also adjustable in the same direction as the said shaft,- mea to move the platform, an endless driving-Ina 4t connectingthe said shaft and bearing-stud, and a driving device engaging the interiediate part of said belt to drive the same, substantially as set forth. l

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto ailxed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ISAAC NEWTON BUNDRN.

Vitnesses:

D. L. VILLIAMS, YV. A. DARLING. 

